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New Archbishop of Cantebury enthroned

TANYA NOLAN: The new spiritual leader of the Church of England has been officially enthroned.

Justin Welby has taken up his post as Archbishop of Canterbury and Primate of all England.

He's highlighted the challenges for the Church responding to issues like gay marriage, as Europe correspondent Mary Gearin reports.

(Sound of knocking)

MARY GEARIN: With these three knocks on the door of Canterbury Cathedral, Justin Welby began his enthronement in traditional style. Just days after the Catholic Church installed its new leader Pope Francis.

PHILLIP ASPINALL: It is quite remarkable really. I'm not aware of any other time in the history of the world when that's happened.

MARY GEARIN: Australian Archbishop Phillip Aspinall is in England for Justin Welby's inauguration, and says like the Pope, the Church of England's new leader faces many challenges.

PHILLIP ASPINALL: Well, in some places the people struggle merely for food and to stay alive in the face of persecution and violence. In other parts of the family, you know, people are dying of obesity. In some parts of the family governments have legislated for gay marriage and equal rights. In other parts of the communion gay relationships continue to be illegal.

So listening across such vast gulfs of culture and understanding is not easy.

MARY GEARIN: On the matter of gay marriage, Archbishop Welby made these comments to the BBC just hours before his inauguration.

JUSTIN WELBY: You see there are relationships that are just stunning in the quality of the relationship and we have particular friends where I recognise that and deeply challenged by it.

REPORTER: Challenged to the extent that you doubt the policy?

JUSTIN WELBY: I don't doubt the policy. I'm challenged as to how we respond to it.

(A hymn being sung)

MARY GEARIN: For the first time in history, a woman played a major role in this ceremony - the Archdeacon of Canterbury Sheila Watson, presided over Justin Welby's appointment as Bishop of Canterbury.

But Justin Welby faces a church divided over the issue of female bishops.

It's just four months since the Church of England General Synod narrowly defeated legislation to introduce female bishops in spite of a speech in favour by Archbishop Welby.

Australia already allows women to take on the role.

Archbishop Aspinall says the situation facing the new leader is difficult.

PHILLIP ASPINALL: It's not really for me to advise the Archbishop of Canterbury about the life of the church in England but it's certainly been a difficult journey in Australia and in the week after Easter in Brisbane, we will be consecrating our first woman bishop.

She will be the first woman bishop in Queensland and the fourth woman bishop in Australia so itís something that I'm personally very committed to but I think each church needs to undertake the journey in a way that is appropriate for that church and the Church of England has its own intricacies and complexities.

Clearly a lot of people have been working very, very hard to find a way forward for the Church of England and I will continue to pray for them and wish them well as they work through that issue just as Australia did over a very long period of time.

We were at it for 30 years or more in Australia and ordained women is still not completely accepted in every place in Australia. So it's an unfolding journey and each church must make its own way and I think we must allow for diversity across the international family of Anglican churches on this and on other issues.